RADIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Content Introduction Radiation Safety Management System 5 Elements of RSMS Policy Organising Planning and Implementation Evaluation Action for Improvement Self Regulation and Continual Improvement Summary

Introduction Radiation protection and radiation safety: Protection is “reactive” while “safety” is proactive and indicating positive gain. Radiation cannot merely be controlled but preferably managed. Management must not only be systematic but also systemic (i.e. System Management). Evolution of Radiation Protection and Safety in Malaysia. Programme VS System Management.

Radiation Safety Management System RSMS is a system approach to managing radiation hazards and risks. RSMS involves the interaction of five major elements to achieve set goals. The five major elements are: policy; organizing; planning and implementation; evaluation; and action for improvement

5 Elements of RSMS RSMS ORGANISING POLICY ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT EVALUATION PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION

5 Elements of RSMS Element 1: POLICY ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT EVALUATION RSMS POLICY PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION ORGANISING

5 Elements of RSMS Element 1: POLICY It is a written commitment of employer towards radiation safety at the work place. A written radiation safety policy should be: Should be specific to the organisation so as to indicate ownership; May be written as a separate policy document or integrated with the company’s general OSH policy safety management system. The later is preferred because it ensures total safety management;

5 Elements of RSMS Element 1: POLICY A written radiation safety policy should be: Must be concisely and clearly written; States the radiation safety objectives; Set the safety standards that the organisation subscribes; Is signed by the employer or the authoritative manager; and Dated.

5 Elements of RSMS Element 1: POLICY Policy must be communicated to all employees. Policy must be periodically reviewed for its relevancy. Writing of a policy should have the contribution and participation of employees. A policy will encourage self-regulation because both employer and employees know what is wanted of them through the written document.

5 Elements of RSMS Element 2: ORGANISING ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT EVALUATION POLICY RSMS ORGANISING PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION

5 Elements of RSMS Element 2 : ORGANISING This is the “WHO is suppose to do WHAT” element of the RSMS. Organizing is about who will plan, implement and review such arrangements to achieve those targets. Organisation needs to set up operational organisational hierarchy to help plan, implement and review all necessary arrangements in use. Both individual and groups of workers contribute organising RSMS.

5 Elements of RSMS Element 2 : ORGANISING Radiation safety organizing may be divided into TWO

Organising: Normal Operation Radiation safety organisation: plans, implements and review arrangements related to normal operations; and prepare safety manual, procedures, instructions etc. Examples of group of personals in an organisation in normal operation include Safety and Health Committee (legal), Radiation Safety Committee and training committee (voluntary).

Radiation Safety Committee Proposed functions of the Radiation Safety Committee are: to discuss all issues related to radiation safety management; to identify the infrastructure requirements (including financial and training requirement) in order to implement RSMS effectively; to plan arrangements related to the successful implementation of RSMS; to ensure that the RSMS is established and is implemented according to AELB or other Regulatory instructions and requirements and subsequently complied by radiation workers; and to ensure the implementation and monitoring of all approved recommendations on radiation safety and health.

Other individuals in the organisation Individuals with the duties and responsibilities in managing radiation safety: OBTL, RPO, RPS, SHO, etc Management must ensure that members of the organisation are trained to achieve their respective competencies.

Duties and Responsibilities of Licensee To appoint an OBTL; Appointment and term of reference (TOR) define by authorities and/or acts/regulations and technical documents or guidelines; To ensure that only the OBTL and the RPO deals with the AELB; and To ensure that all activities involving ionizing radiation comply with the Atomic Energy Licensing Act (Act 304) and its subsidiary legislations.

Duties and Responsibilities of OBTL To deal with the AELB. To provide the infrastructures (include financial and training) needed by the RPO. To nominate workers to the AELB to be recognized as an RPO and radiation workers. To explain to the RPO his responsibilities as an RPO. To appoint a registered medical practitioner. Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of OBTL To ensure that only a registered medical practitioner approved by the AELB carries out examinations. To provide, to up-date and to keep records as directed by the AELB. To ensure that all activities involving ionizing radiation comply with the Act 304 and its subsidiary legislations.

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO To establish and review RSMS. To identify and analyze radiological hazards in the working and surrounding area. To establish emergency plans and preparedness. To report any radiological incident to the AELB. To carry out investigation on radiological incident. Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO To classify and mark working areas according to the Radiation Protection (Basic Safety Standard). To establish and carry out radiation dose monitoring programmes on radiation workers, working areas and the environment. To ensure that radiation protection equipments are in good working order and are always being used by the workers. To plan for the suitable disposal of radioactive waste. Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO To implement programme for the storage of radiation source, calibration and maintenance of radiation equipments. To organize medical surveillance programme for radiation workers. To identify the types and levels of training, and retraining on radiation protection for radiation workers. Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO To ensure that the transport of radioactive material, nuclear material and prescribed substances are carried out in accordance with the Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulations 1989. To ensure that the employment, the termination and the retirement of radiation workers comply with the procedures prescribed by the AELB. To ensure that the changes to be made to the location of radiation equipments get prior approval in writing from the AELB. Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO To supervise the following work: High risk jobs, such as “planned special exposure”. Maintenance jobs on radiation equipments. Transportation of high activity radioactive materials and high-risk nuclear materials. Control and rescue operation during an emergency. Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO To inspect, keep and maintain the following records: Activities involving ionizing radiation for the entire institution including its branches; Medical examination for workers (LPTA/BM/5) (Section A); Exposures for workers (LPTA/BM/5) (Section B); Radiation equipments maintenance, including leak tests; Calibration of radiation measurement equipments; External radiation levels; Cont …

Duties and Responsibilities of RPO Other records…. External radiation levels; Returns of possessions (LPTA/BM/3); Returns of sales (LPTA/BM/4); Disposal of radioactive waste and radiation sources; Employment, termination or exchange of radiation workers; Import/export of radioactive materials and irradiation apparatus; Transport of radioactive materials and irradiation apparatus; Radiological accidents; Transfer of radioactive material and irradiating apparatus; Training; Other records as required by the AELB from time to time.

Organising: Abnormal or Emergency Response Operation An emergency organisation is also part of the organisation managing radiation safety. An emergency hierarchy organisation chain of command should be established for on-site emergency and/or off-site emergency. Chain of command must be clear, in order to solicit fast and accurate response in the most efficient way. The chain of command should be led by a person-in-charge/incident commander and supported by teams or/and individuals pertinent to emergency response. Duties and responsibilities of all team and individuals in the emergency response team must be clearly defined. Cont …

Organising: Abnormal or Emergency Response Operation All members of the emergency organisation must be well trained to achieve their respective competencies and competent to respond cohesively Functions and activities of organisation, duties and responsibilities of emergency team must be documented and the documents maintained to ensure accuracy in response. Performance of organisation in terms of accuracy, effectiveness and efficiency of response must always be measured, reviewed and actions for improvement carried out. Cont …

5 Elements of RSMS Element 3: PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION POLICY ORGANISING RSMS PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT EVALUATION Cont …

5 Elements of RSMS Element 3: PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION Comprehensive planning must precede safe working practices. Carry out initial review of the current radiation safety status and existing logistical support. Initial review will: Look at what is currently in place and practice; Look at current compliance standards and practices; Assess current status in terms of performance standards; and Identify and recommend improvement measures to enhance radiation and overall OS performance objectives and policy. Cont …

5 Elements of RSMS Element 3: PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION PRFL and RPO in collaboration with radiation workers are responsible for the planning and implementations of radiation safety activities. All planning and implementation should take into consideration set radiation safety objectives and safety policy. One important aspect in planning and implementation of radiation safety management system is radiological hazards prevention. Two aspects of radiological hazards prevention are: prevention and control measures; and management of change.

Prevention and Control Measures Achieved through radiation risk management. Radiation risk management involves: Radiation hazards identification Radiation risk estimation Radiation risk evaluation Radiation risk control Radiation risk communication Radiation risk control reviews

Radiation Risk Management Radiation risk management is carried out for: Normal practice Emergency or abnormal situations Radiation risk assessment should be carried out: Before operation During operation After operation (decommissioning)

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Estimation Quantitative risk estimation based on measurement of potential dose exposure relative to maximum permissible dose limits.

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Hazards Identification Methods of identifying radiation includes: Signages CSDS Radiation detectors and dosimeters

Annual Dose Limits as Recommended by the Basic Safety Standards APPLICATION Annual Dose Limits (BSS) Occupationa Exposure: a) Annual dose limit for the whole body exposure of worker b) Female pregnant worker: dose to the foetus accumulated over the period of time between confirmation of pregnancy and the date of c) Partial body exposure of a worker: Limit for the effective dose-equivalent Limit on equivalent dose for the skin (averaged over 1 cm2 of skin surface) Limit on equivalent dose for the hands and feet 20 mSv < 1 mSv 50 mSv 500 mSv 150 mSv

Annual Dose Limits as Recommended by the Basic Safety Standards APPLICATION Annual Dose Limits (BSS) Exposure of members of the Public Dose limit for whole body exposure Equivalent dose limit for the lens shall not exceed Average equivalent dose limit to the skin (averaged over any 1 cm2) Effective dose limit for a person who knowingly assits in the support of a patient during the period of diagnosticexamination or treatment of the patient Effective dose limit for a person below the age of 16 years visiting patient undergoing treatment or diagnostic examination involving radioactive material during the period of the treatment or examination of the patient 1 mSv 15 mSv 50 mSv < 5 mSv < 1 mSv

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Evaluation Risk evaluation is based on maximum permissible dose limits. Evaluation in terms of levels of risks: Acceptable risk: risk that may be accepted without any condition. Tolerable risk: risk that may be accepted with control measures in place and the risk levels is tolerated. Intolerable risk: risk that cannot be accepted under normal conditions.

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Control Tolerable risk must be controlled and workers protected. Two radiation protection systems: Proposed and continuing practices: these are actions which cause exposures to radiation, Intervention: these are actions which decrease exposures Three principles used in both radiation protection systems: Justification of practice Optimization of protection and safety Dose limit

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Communication All radiation risk should be communicated to radiation workers. Important for employees to understand the radiation risk they are taking so that they know what control steps to be taken. Use verbal and non verbal communications.

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Control Reviews There could never be a perfect assessment or control measures because radiation risk is not static. Radiation risk control reviews ensure all preventive and control measures are still applicable and relevant. Competent and authorized person to carry out risk communication. Planning for emergency response and preparedness is required of ALL licensed organization.

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Control Reviews Organization must: identify and categorize all types of emergency (radiological and non-radiological emergencies); identify and categorize all types of accident situations; assess all related accidents and emergencies; consider the relevant radiological risk prevention arrangements; ensure all information with regards to emergency are communicated to employees; consider arrangements to integrate organisational radiological emergency response plan and preparedness (ERP) with in-house ERP and those ERP of relevant authorities; ensure ERP skill training for all ERP personnel; and ensure that all arrangements are documented, and the documents are maintained.

Radiation Risk Management: Radiation Risk Control Reviews The most efficient way of controlling hazards is to control it at the source. Incorporate safety consideration in: procurement and contracting.

5 Elements of RSMS Element 4: EVALUATION ORGANISING PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION POLICY RSMS EVALUATION ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT

5 Elements of RSMS Element 4: EVALUATION Performance of activities implemented must be evaluated. Methods of evaluation, include: Performance monitoring; Accident investigation; Audit; and Management review. Quantitative as well as qualitative method should be used in evaluation.

Performance Monitoring There are three ways in carrying out performance monitoring: reactive monitoring; proactive monitoring; and active monitoring

Accident Investigation A full accident investigation will help: Identify the WHY and HOW of an investigation. Identify the root causes of an accident. Identify corrective measures to prevent the recurrence of similar accident.

Management Review Most effective method of evaluation is through management review. The highest authority: Will be aware of the performance of their radiation safety management system; and Are involved in making major decision related to such performances.

5 Elements of RSMS Element 5: ACTION FOR IMOPROVEMENT PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION ORGANISING RSMS ACTION FOR IMPROVEMENT POLICY

Action for Improvement The information gathered on weakness of the system and recommendation made should be implemented. Anything implemented should be monitored for its success in correcting the weakness. Continuous evaluation and improvement ensure continual improvement in radiation safety performance.

Continual Improvement Continual improvement should be based on: justification of radiation technology used; optimization of the dose received to ALARA; and dose limit. Fundamental commitment by management to proactively reduce radiation accident and ill health (effectiveness) and/or the system to achieve the desired aims by employing fewer resources (efficiency).

Summary

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